Prescribed Burns Scheduled at Southeast Nebraska Wildlife Lands

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NGPC news release, 10/23/08:

LINCOLN, Neb -- The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will conduct prescribed burns on several wildlife management areas (WMA) and a few state recreation areas (SRA) in southeast Nebraska between Nov. 1 and March 15, 2009, when soil and weather conditions are favorable, according to Commission Wildlife Biologist Greg Bailey.

The Commission’s primary goal of burning is to enhance stands of forbs and grass and curtail the invasion of unwanted woody plant species.

Burning is used to stimulate the growth of certain grass species over others. It promotes the growth of forbs, which in turn produce more insects -- an important food source for upland game bird chicks. Overall, burning improves the quality of grassland habitat and the production of certain wildlife species.

The following areas are scheduled for prescribed burns:

Butler County -- Redtail WMA

Johnson County -- Twin Oaks WMA

Lancaster County -- Branched Oak, Wildwood, Killdeer and Yankee Hill WMAs, Olive Creek, Pawnee and Bluestem SRAs

Pawnee County -- Burchard Lake WMA

Saline County -- Swan Creek WMA

Seward County -- Blue Bluffs, Oak Glen and Twin Lakes WMAs